Migrant Entrepreneurship in the Outer City of Melbourne: Social Networks, Motivations and Entrepreneurial Capabilities

This paper presents findings on migrant entrepreneurship in Australia, focusing on motivations to business start-up and entrepreneurial capabilities. Using a self-administered survey questionnaire, we collected data from 200 migrant entrepreneurs in January - February, 2015 in Melbourne's suburbs. Findings revealed the highest mean "push" factor (0.878) - "I had no other option". The top mean "pull" factor was "The joy I get from serving others" (0.820). Employing people from the same cultural background proved the importance of informal social networks. Assurance of steady supply from suppliers was more important than suppliers' ethnicity. Participants possessed three capability variables; opportunity seeking, innovativeness and pro-activeness. Multiple regression analysis confirmed that all motivation factors had significant positive effect on these capability variables. Findings provide important insights into motivations and capabilities of migrant entrepreneurs in Australia, hence offer policy implications for owners, government agencies and financial institutions that support migrant entrepreneurship.